Foodies Show Heart Charity Cooking Competition at RA Sushi In South Miami 2/13/13

For more information, please call 305.341.0092 or visit www.Facebook.com/RASushiSouthMiami. The event is free with RSVP to FoodiesShowHeart@taraink.com and space is limited.

RA Sushi in South Miami is proud to announce that it will host its first-ever â€œFoodies Show Heartâ€ charity cooking competition one day prior to Valentineâ€™s Day. The tasting event will pit six prominent, local culinary writers and bloggers against each other in a battle for a noble cause. Using one secret seasonal ingredient, the contestants will be paired with a RA Sushi chef to create and name their signature roll. The public will serve as the judging panel during the celebration, with each attendee receiving one token to vote on the best sushi roll. The championâ€™s dish will be added to RA Sushi in South Miamiâ€™s menu for 30 days, and a portion of proceeds from the sale of that item will benefit the creatorâ€™s charity of choice.

The panel of contestants for the first-ever â€œFoodies Show Heartâ€ includes: Â· Laine Doss, lead Food & Spirits Reporter at Miami New Times and Broward/Palm Beach New Times, as well as contributor to Food Network and Cooking Channel â€“ competing on behalf of Tri County Humane Society, a 100 percent no-kill organization saving lives of animals in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Martin counties. Â· Linda Gassenheimer, TV and radio personality at WLRN 91.3 and â€œDinner In Minutesâ€ columnist at The Miami Herald, is an award-winning author of 16 cookbooks, including The Flavors of the Florida Keys and Fast and Flavorful: Great Diabetes Meals from Market to Table â€“ competing on behalf of Camillus House, a full-service center that has provided humanitarian services to the indigent and homeless populations of Miami-Dade County for more than 50 years. Â· Jen Karetnick, Dining Critic at MIAMI Magazine and Miamiâ€™s longest-running food critic, she has written about food and travel national publications and websites including Food Networkâ€™s City Eats, Forbes.com, Gayot.com and Southern Living â€“ competing on behalf of Doctors Without Borders, an international medical humanitarian organization that provides independent, impartial assistance in more than 60 countries. Â· Lydia Martin, â€œLunch with Lydiaâ€ columnist for The Miami Herald, has lunched with celebs such as Jennifer Lopez, Lilâ€™ Kim, Penelope Cruz, Will Smith, Sting and Celia Cruz, along with a who’s who of food world personalities, from Ferran Adria and Alain Ducasse to Anthony Bourdain â€“ competing on behalf of Pridelines Youth Services, an organization dedicated to supporting, educating and empowering South Floridaâ€™s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth in a safe and diverse environment. Â· Jacquelynn Powers, Editorial Director of MiamiPopMedia.com and a longtime food writer for Ocean Drive Magazine, The Daily Beast, AOL and Urban Daddy, her interview subjects include Emeril Lagasse, Padma Lakshmi and Wolfgang Puck â€“ competing on behalf of Mourning Family Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Alonzo and Tracy Mourning to better serve South Florida communities and its children. Â· Johnny Todd, Miami Community Director at Yelp and urban explorer seeking the best that local businesses have to offer, Todd has also bested Chicago foodies in two "Iron Cook" competitions (Citrus and Autumn) â€“ competing on behalf of Year Up, a an organization that seeks to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their true potential.

The celebration continues at RA Sushi in South Miami with extended Happy Hour pricing from 7 p.m. to close, as well as beats by a local DJ.